Morning journal and courier., 1887-12-07
BIiSDSEY C. LAKE.

Death of One of Our best Known Cfti-
zeRs Yesterday Afternoon at His
Residence ON Meadow street.
Mr.. Birdsey G. Lake died at his residence,
No. S04 Meadow street, at quarter to four
o'clock yesterday afternoon after an illness
of about four weeks' duration. He was pros
trated four weeks ago last Friday with cys
tits, trouble which had followed him more
or less for a number of years and which
finally run into blood poisoning, which caused
his death. All that the best medical skill
and devoted care could accomplish was DONE
but without avail. His death will cause
genuine sadness and sorrow among large
number of warm personal friends, and the
family will have the sympathy of very many
in their sad bereavement. Deceased was one
of our best known citizens, having been for
many years in his early manhood merchant
here, and later a prominent real estate dealer
and auctioneer. he was of bright CHEEKY
temperament, full of hearty good fellowship,
kind hearted and devoted to his friends, and
was, when in vigorous health, man of great
activity energy and much executive ability He
was native of Newtown in this State, born
there sixty-four years ago, the son of Nichols
B. Lake, well-to-do farmer, respected and
this city when sixteen years old and was
clerk for years for the late Lucius Gilbert
when the latter had grocery store on Broad
way, corner of York street, where B. F. Banks
store now is Later he engaged in and
for fifteen years or more carried on a whole
sale liquor business firm of Lake & Stanley
a portion of the time) on Custom House
Square about where Porter's store is now.
After that he became interested in various
business enterprises and bought largely of
real estate. He became superintendent of
the New Haven hospital in the early
pied the position when the hospital
became the knight hospital, and was crowd
ed with invalid and wounded soldiers-the
time when the late DR.. P. A. Jewett was sur
geon in chief in charge. Later when the
Connecticut general hospital work was re-
moved to what had previously been the DR..
Phillips water cure hospital on Whalley
avenue, the government having need of all
the room in the Knight hospital, Mr.. Lake
remained as superintendent in the new quar-
tiers. He continued in the position until
after the close of the war and when the hos
tai work was taken back to tbs old hospital
buildings he resigned to engage more fully
in the care of his real estate interests. When
the financial crash came few years later
wrecking many New Haven real estate owners
Mr.. Lake shared severely in the reverses.
Since that time he had carried on the bust
ness of real estate dealing and brokerage and
was for many years our leading auctionser
In his capacity as auctioneer he effected the
sale of many notable pieces of real estate,
prominent among which was the sale of the
Insurance building year or two ago. For
ten years past his health has been impaired,
preventing him from combining himself close
ly to business. His first wife, Miss Sher-
man, Brookfeld lady, died in 1874. In
1879 he married Miss Peck daughter of the
late Henry E. Peck, who survives him. He
leaves two sons, B. 9. Lake, jr., of this city,
telegraphed and is expected to arrive this
evening. Mr.. Lake for years attended Christ
church mission, now Christ church, AFTER
wards attending St. Thomas, and for years
past Trinity. The arrangements for the
funeral are not yet completed.